EROSION DANGER

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 9

EROSION DANGER

NOT IMMEDIATE IN WAIWAKAIHO. ENGINEERS VISIT KAIMIRO. • \ Following the severe flooding in the Waiwakaiho River last autumn various reports were circulated that considerable danger existed of the river permanently changing its course at Kaimiro. Mr. C. Clarke, engineer of the New Plymouth Borough Council was instructed to examine the affected area "as there seemed a possibility that the town hydro-electric works and water supply would be seriously affected. After thorough examination, Mr. Clarke has come to the conclusion that no immediate danger exists. He submitted a comprehensive report to the council on Monday night. Messrs. P. Keller (Public Works Department), S. C. Judd (Inglewood county), Palmer (for the Taranaki County Council) and Clarke viewed the site on August 19. Mr. Clarke made it clear that the borough was concerned only with the possibility of the dry weather flow being affected. It was noticeable, said Mr. Clarke, that considerable scour had taken place and in all probability this might continue for some distance into the eastern bank. There certainly did exist a danger that during heavy floods the Waiwakaiho might break into the small stream running to the east and the levels showed that there was a possibility, although remote, that this stream might in time become the bed of the Waiwakaiho. In the event of this happening there would exist a danger of at least a partial break through into the Mangaoraka Valley. After a full discussion it was agreed that no immediate danger existed and that if the present scour did continue, an angle in the river would develop to such an extent that a “bottling up” effect would be obtained, causing stone to deposit, which would eventually block future scouring. It cannot, of course, be assumed with any certainty that this would take place, but there was every indication of it Any protective measure adopted now would be costly in both capital expenditure and in maintenance and any additional scour which might take place in the meantune would not add to the cost or difficulty of effecting protective measures at a later “My own personal opinion is that this 'council will never be faced with any heavy expenditure there,” added Mr. Clarke. “I consider that the dry weather flow would still continue in the old bed even if there was a change in course of the main bed of the river as described, but it would be advisable as a precautionary measure to inspect this portion of the river at least once each year in future.” An instruction to make the annual inspection was given by the council.